My Adventures as the Houston Quilt Festival
The first night my roommate was Terri Winsaurer from Quilts, Inc. and she graciously offered me her room for the next 8 nights. Her wonderful Mom, Mary joined us on Monday and we just melded together wonderfully.
Monday, Oct. 24th
Jean Wells Keenan, famous Jean Wells, taught the first day’s class from Sister’s Quilt Show, and the class was called “A Portrait of a Garden”. I am working on the different sections and will eventually make a vest out of these designs.
That evening I participated in Quilto and met several quilter's from across the world. I was able to sit with a group from South Africa. They are touring the USA and attending as many quilt shows and classes as they can. Lovely bunch of ladies.
Then I met Terri and her Mom and we left the convention center around 10pm since we had to make sure everything was ready for the next day work load.
Tuesday, Oct. 25
I also was made a member of the Quilts, Inc, staff on Tuesday morning and helped hang quilts, wrap black fabric on concrete blocks, etc.. Boy, was I sore after the rolling of them into fabric, wrapping and then placing. It is interesting to see a large quilt show come together and be behind the scenes to see how much has to be done. I don’t know how Terri could keep up with all the volunteers, knowing where they were and what their jobs were, but she was awesome. Here is a photo of Terri and her Mom, Mary. She is now my Mom too!
That afternoon I took my second class on Machine
Quilting called “Quilt like Me” with Laura Heine. It was a very good class, and she
recommends to put the pedal to the floor and move, move, move. Well, I will work on that.
That evening was “Winners Circle” and here are some photos of the winners.
Please note: all of these quilts are copyrighted,
please do not copy photos or designs! They are just here for you to enjoy and drool
over!!!
Wednesday, Oct. 26
The day started at 6:00 a.m. as we finished hanging the quilts for the grand opening that evening. We hung and hung an hung! - So many lovely quilts! - And then organized the vendor’s area. Grand Opening was to begin at 5pm-7pm for IQA and Class Attendees, with the grand opening for the public scheduled at 7pm to 10pm. There is a lot to learn about what is going on from the backroom: having enough quilt angles, guardians, doorkeepers and ticket takers. We didn’t get to eat till 11pm at a nearby Denny’s and then back to the hotel. It was a real long day, but well worth it. Of course, being in Astro Country we had to stay up to watch the game, but I think we all fell asleep and woke up just as the game ended to turn off the TV.
(Minute Maid Park from George Brown Convention Center where the world series was played by the Chicago White Sox (winner) against Houston Astros)
Thursday, Oct. 27th
This was predicted to be a heavy day in terms of attendance and the prediction was right on. Lines for tickets were unreal, people and more people in lines to get in the doors. It looked like this was going to be a long, long day again. I was fortunate to be a Guardian of the Husqvarna Quilt Section. So many people wanting to take photos and I had to say, “sorry, no photo allowed here.” Oh well, they bought the lovely book instead, then I was the guardian of all the Winner Quilts. It was an honor to show these quilts, of such artistry and quality work, which I will never be able to do in my lifetime.
When the show closed we thought we would be going straight back to hotel, but it didn‘t happen. We had to go to the vendor’s area and round up the last of the shoppers and tell them, “it will be here tomorrow, come back then.” But certain shoppers were not very co-operative and didn’t leave until close to 10pm. Again a very late dinner and to bed around 1pm. Of course I attended the Bernina Fashion Show which was awesome.
winning outfit
Friday- Oct. 28
A tough starts. Sleep caught up with us; we overslept and rushed to get showered, dressed and to work at the show. We arrived with lines again around the corners of the George Brown Convention Center and were able to get in and to our stations. I basically worked as a floater going to guardian, helping vendors, typing up passes and logging hours for those who have worked the previous days. The afternoon I had off and Annie and I looked at the quilts, shopped, I bought only one thing so far, a pounce marker and ordered a stencil. Annie bought lace embroideries from Zundt, then we went to dinner and back to my hotel by 11pm. The first night in bed before midnight. Wow, it does happen.
Saturday-Oct. 29
Today was suppose to be my free day, so I decided to do some laundry before going over to the show. I actually slept in till 8am, and after the laundry was done I was at the show by 12pm and was soon paged to report to the Office. Several people didn’t show up for their work and they needed me to help with guardian again. I also got to help with the children learning how to sew. It is so rewarding to show children how a sewing machine works and to see their eyes gleam with their finished project. That evening Annie and I went out to dinner again and called it a night around 11pm.
Sunday-Oct. 30
An 8:00 a.m.class with Laura Cater-Woods “Free Motion/Free Form Flowers”. This was the best of my classes. She is an awesome lady, so entertaining and so creative. I can’t wait to finish my top of Free Form Flowers. Something to start on again this winter, since Christmas gifts has to be finished first. After class, I met up with Polly, Glorida, Maple, Annie and Karla. We had such a blast, shopping, [yes, I did buy fabric from Miss Diane, The Chicken Tree, and 40 FQ’s of dyed fabric.] The show closed and we said our goodbyes.
Annie and Ricky Timms
qD, Annie and Polly!
And now the really hard work began. Every quilt had to be taken down and packed and all rods, lanyards and curtains put away. We started at 5pm and finished at 3:30am ( Monday -Oct. 31). When we got back to the hotel, I packed, since I was leaving Houston at 10:55am. That meant I had to be at the airport at 8:55am, so there was no bed or sleep since the night before. I was a walking zombie when I got on to the plane and slept most of the way home.
I had a wonderful time at the festival - so many beautiful quilts, so many new products and so many vendors - and I met so many wonderful people that are now true friends, and hope that someday I may return to Houston for another Festival.
qD
The Bernina Fashion Show...
